Anesthetizing apparatus



June 21, 1938.

J. A. HEIDBRINK 2.121,]96

ANESTHETIZING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l GAs ADMINISTELRINGT MACHINE Invention": l wHeidbn'nk Md June 21, 1938. J A, HEIDBRIN 2,121,196

ANESTHETIZING APPARATUS" Filed July 18, 1934 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 43 Inventor: J )1 Tag AHeidbV'Lnk.

40 Kttorneys.

June 21, 1938.

J. A. HEIDBRINK ANESTHETIZING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invnt'or: Heidbr-ink MIW tier-r1298 June 21, 1938. J, A, HEmBRmK 2,121,196

ANESTHETIZING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor- J'ay A. Heidbr'mk.

5 11411 14121111 Nttornegs June 21, 1938.

J. A. HEIDBRINK ANESTHETIZING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 21', 1938' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 18, 1934, Serial No. 735,803

15 Claims.

10 through material capable of absorbing out carbon dioxide, such as soda lime, or pass to and y from the rebreathing bag directly without going through such an absorber. It is a further object of my invention to provide in conjunction with such rebreathing and absorber mechanism, means for delivering to the patient continuously a predetermined'amount of a gas, or of a mixture of gases in suitable proportions, whereby the gas breathed and rebreathed by the patient will be maintained with a predetermined and suitable amount of the anesthetizing agent therein.

It is a.further object of my invention to provide in conjunction with the rebreathing and absorber mechanism an ether vaporizer mounted upon the exhaling tube between the inhaler at the mouth or nose of the patient and the absorber, together with means for connecting or disconnecting the ether vaporizer in the breathing line of the exhaling tube as desired, whereby if ether is supplied an admixture in the gases will take place during the exhaling action and before the gas has passed through the absorber. In this manner the heat of exhalation is utilized in vaporization of the ether and the ethercharged gases are further warmed by the released heat of absorption in the absorber and are thoroughly and completely mixed with the body of gas 'drawn from the rebreathing bag 'through the absorber before passing into the lungs of the patient.

.The absorption of carbon dioxide from the gas mixture exhaled by the patient not only permits a great saving in the use of expensive anesthetizing gases, but in the continuous rbieathing of such of the gas as goes through the lungs there are advantages to the patient probably derived from the uniformity of gas mixture going into the lungs both as regards the mixture of the component parts and as regards physical characteristics such as temperature and moisture content, and this produces better conditions of anesthesia and a more favorable recovery from it by the patient. Under certain conditions, however, more or less carbon dioxide advantageously may be rebreathed, and it is a further object of my invention to provide means forregulating and determining the extent to which the exhaled gases shall go throughthe absorber from. none at all to all of them, and in that manner (arms-203) to regulate and determine the degree of absorption ,of carbon dioxide from substantially zero to substantially 100 per cent. v

It is a further object of my invention to provide a continuous breathing circuit with an absorber in said circuit and means in association with the circuit whereby the gas is moved through the absorber both on inhalation and on exhalation. It is a further object of my invention to provide a continuous breathing circuit closed to atmosphere including an inhaler and with means in the inhaler whereby the closed circuit can be shut ofi and the circuit opened to breathe air.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and its novel features are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating an application of my invention in one form,-

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention shown as applied to a. gas administering ma.- chine, which may be of any well-known form, and which is indicated diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l, somewhat enlarged. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction of the arrows and somewhat enlarged. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction of the arrows and somewhat enlarged. Fig. 5a is a fragmentary sectional view on line 5a-5a of Fig. 6. Fig. 5b is a part sectional fragmentary view taken on line 511-511 of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and reduced to the scale of Fig. 1. Fig. '7, is a sectional elevation view taken on line '|-'I of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction of the arrows.

.Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the central valve part shown in Fig. 8 with the valve turned 90 degrees from the position of the valve in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a somewhat enlarged sectional plan view of the absorber valve taken on line llJ-l0 of Fig. '7. Fig. 11 is a similar sectional view taken on line H-|l of Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the flowpassage through the absorber chamber similar to what.

is shown in Fig. 7 with a modified valve construction. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line l3|3 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation of the ether vaporizer mounted ongthe exhaling tube and taken on the line 14-44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 15 is asection of part of what is shown in Fig. .14 with the valve at right angles to he position in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a sectional plan view taken on line Iii-l6 of Fig. 14. Fig. 1'7 is a sectional view taken on line l'I--l'| of Fig. 14. Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation view taken on line v 24 extends l8-l8 of Fig. I viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 19 is a sectional elevation view on, line I3-l3 of Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation view on line 2626 of Fig. 3. Fig. 21 is a sectional plan view taken on line 2l-2l of Fig. 18. Fig. 22 is a sectional detail taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 18.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, a casting I8 is provided with a tubular connector member ll adapted to be removably secured by means of a wing nut l2 to the gas-delivery tube 13 of. a gas administering machine indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, which may be any well-known form of machine for delivering'a gas, or gases in suitable mixtures, to a patient, and the details of which are no part of the present invention. Within the member II is a passageway I 4, Fig. 6, which connects through an opening IS with a tube l6. This tube l6 in turn connects with a tubular chamber formed as a part of casting l8 above a valve disc l8. This valve disc and its mounting is shown in detail in Fig. 5.

A washer l3 restsupon a circumferential flange or ledge 28 and is secured in gastight position by means of solder 2|. Surrounding the opening 22 formed through this washer is a milled annular sharp-edged lip 23 upon which the valve disc it rests. A stop bar 24 is held in position by screws 25 threaded into the washer IS with spacer members 26 extending between the bar 24 and the upper surface of washer l8. Stop members 21 extend downward equal distances from stop bar 24, and a guide pin 28 fast on stop bar through a central opening in valve disc I 8. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the tubular connector member II is formed as part of casting III in conjunction with a central tubular passageway 29 which extends centrally through a circular plate 38 and prolonged into a tubular valve chamber 3i below the plate 38, which valve chamber 3| is formed as an integral part of casting Ill and is provided with a bottom wall 32 formed with oppositely-disposed quadrant ports 33,- and whose cylindrical walls are provided with oppositely-disposed rectangular ports 34, the ports 33 and 34 having their center lines in the same common planes, as clearly shown in Fig. 10.

The top plate is provided with an outer flange 35 and an inner flange 36, Fig. 4, forming an annular groove 31 in which is seated a packing ring 38 of well-known construction. A container 48 of general cylindrical shape is adapted to engage, with its slightly outturned upper edge 4|, the flangering 38. Arms 42 and 43 are hingedly secured by means of plates 44 and 45 in diametrically-opposed position to the walls of the container 48. These arms embody offset portions 46 and 41 which. have threaded therein thumb screws 48 and 43 adapted to engage seats and-5i on the top of plate 38. By these means the container 48 can be removably secured in gastight relation casting I 8.

The bottom wall 52 of container 40 is preferably formed in a semi-spherical manner with a central tubular projection 53 to which is secured a gas rebreathing bag 54 dwell-known construction as shown in Fig. 7. The bottom 52 is formed with an annular seat 55 in which is rigidly mounted an upstanding tube 56 formed with rectangular ports 51 on opposite sides of its lower portion. The tube 56 is also provided with ports 58 registering with the ports 34 in the tubular valve chamber 3| as clearly shown in Fig. '1.

upon the plate 38 of Immediately above the ports 51 is secured a reticulate wall 59 upon which rests the soda lime 66 or other absorbing material which fills the container 48 above the reticulate wall 59. A conical reticulate wall 6| surrounds the portion of tube 56 which embodies the ports 58 and is held spaced therefrom by an annular washerlike member 62.

The top of the tubular member 28 is closed by means of a threaded cap 63 provided with a threaded extension 64 65 which forms the seat of a valve stem 66. Upon the threaded extension 64 is screwed a packing nut 61 which by means of packing 68 around valve stem 66 makes the bearing of said stem through the cap gastight. Upon the top of valve stem 66 is mounted a handle 69 from which depends a pointer '18 which cooperates with a scale ll formed on a plate I2 on the top of .cap 63. A valve cylinder 13 is formed in the shape of al cylindrical cup having valve ports 14 in its bottom wall 15, and valve ports 16 in its cylindrical side walls, said ports 14 and 16 respectively being in oppositely-disposed pairs with the center lines through them at right angles, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 10. The bottom wall 15 of the cup valve member 13 has secured thereto a cylindrical boss 11 through which extends the valve stem 66 which is keyed to said boss as indicated at 18 in Fig. 4. Upon the top of the cylindrical cup valve 13 are a pair of projecting stop members 18 and 88 adapted to engage a screw 8i projecting into the inside central passageway 28 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, so as to limit the rotary movement of valve member 13 for maximum opening or closing of one or the other of the sets of valve ports 33-14 or 34-58-46, according to whether it is desired to have the exhaled and rebreathed gas to and from the rebreathing bag 54 pass directly thereto or through the absorbing material 60, or they may be opened and closed relatively predetermined amounts as indicated by the pointer 10 on the scale 1i. The cup valve member 13 is held with its bottom wall 15 in firm engagement with the bottom wall 32 of the valve chamber 3| by means of a fairly strong spring 82 engaging between a nut 83 on the projected lower end of valve stem 66 and a sleeve 84 surrounding said valve stem.

The valve stem 66, sleeve 84 and connection above described are shown extended to a point toward the bottom of the tube 56 to adapt it to a modification which is sometimes desirable, and which is illustrated in Fig. 12. In this modification the cylindrical cup valve 13 isretained as in Fig. 7 and a central cylinder 85 is applied to its bottom wall 32. The sleeve 84 is omitted and the spring 82 takes between nut 83 and a crossbar 86 secured to cylinder extension 85.

The lower part of said cylinder extension 85 is formed as a valve member having side ports 81 corresponding in position with the side ports 16 in the cup valve 13, so that when ports 16 are in open or delivery position, ports 81 will likewise open to the space 88 below the partition 59 and holding the absorbing material 68. But when the ports 16 are closed with ports 33, 14 open, the lower ports 81|will likewise be closed and gas exhaled into and breathed from the rebreathing bag 54 will be entirely cut oil from any possible contact with the absorbing material in container 48 such as might possibly occur to an extremely limited extent, in the form of Fig. 7,

and with a central bore I having a central opening 99 and by means of a transparent cover 9| held in position by the cap being threaded. upon the member I1 as indicated at 92. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 18, an outlet 93 leads from the chamber or member I1 above valve disc I8, which, as clearly shown, is

below said outlet 93 and fresh gas inlet I6. The outlet 93 is connected either directly with a tubing 94, or; in the form shown in Fig. 19, to said tubing 94 through an intermediate casting 294 which supports a humidifier jar 205 and from which a nipple 206 leads for connection with tubing 94. As clearly shown in Fig. 19 the jar 205 is secured to the connector casting 294 by means of a turn-nut 201 which screws into a threaded seat 208.- Within the jar 295 is an extension tubing 299 which goes down into a wicking formed of separated strands of cord similar to that employed in the ether vaporizer hereinafter described. By this means, when desired, particularly when using explosive gases such as ethylene, water in the jar 295 will be taken up by the wicking and transferred to saturate the gas passing through to the patients supply line 94, thus insuring against explosion. This humidifier arrangement is shown connected in the machinabut it will be obvious that the supply tubing 94 may be connected directly to the extension" 93 as shown in Fig. 4, and this will be practically sufficient for many uses of the apparatus.

The tubing 94 leads to a union casting 95 which is connected at 9Ii with an inhaler 91. The casting 95 is provided with an extension 98 which connects with the inhaler tubing 94 and with a second extension 99 which connects with the exhaler tubing I99. Both these tubings lead into a chamber IOI which communicates on one side with a passageway I02 leading to the inhaler, as best shown in Fig. 3, and on the other side through a passageway 2 I9 leading to an exhaling valve I95. A valve disc I93, Fig. 3, is adapted to fluctuate to permit exhaling through apertures I94, but may be closed by means of the stop cap I99 controlled by thumb nut I01 threaded into exhaling valve I95; whereby the flicker valve disc I03 may be restrained a greater or less degree or held ccm'pletely inoperative to prevent any breathing to atmosphere, which is a condition usually employed when the absorber mechanism is in operation.v Chamber I9I which is closedat the top by cap member 2I I, Fig. 20, is provided with a multiplicity of apertures 2I2 leading from atmosphere through a passageway 2l9 to chamber I9I, asclearly shown in Fig. 20.

The passageway 2I3 is adapted to be closed by engagement of rubber washer 3l4 with annular valve projection 3I5 surrounding opening 2I3, said washer being carried by a valve disc 3I9 on a member 3l 1 carried by a valve stem 2I8. The member3I1 carries another valve disc 2I9 which is adapted to engage with the annular lip 329 which surrounds an opening 32I leading to the chamber connected with the tube-connecting extensions 98 and99. The valve stem 2I8 has on its outer end a screwhead 222 which is held within a cam cup 223 by means of a coiled com- I pression spring 224 taking between the underside of. screw 222 and a bottom wall 225 of cam cup 223. Cam cup 223 is formed with notches 226 on opposite, sides of a portion extended outside of the floor 225, and which notches take on passageway 2 I3. In this position the inhaler operates in the usual way by inhaling through tube 94 and exhaling through tube I90. It is, however, frequently desirable to let the patient breathe air particularly before'the beginning of administering an anesthetic. When this is desired the exhaling valve heretofore described is opened, the cam nut 223 is turned to let the springs 224 and 229 push the valve stem and the valve H9 in a position to seat against the valve lip 329, closing communication through opening 32I to the tubing 94 and I and opening communication through passage 2I3 to atmosphere. In this position, with the inhaler attached, the patient will breathe air comfortably, andthe anesthetizing apparatus can bethrown into operation instantly by merely turning the cam piece 223.

From the inhaler 91 exhaled gas passes through the exhaling tube I99 to a casting I09 providing a support for an ether jar I99 and a valve chamber H9, and passes through the valve III in this chamber into a passageway within an extension II2 projecting from a verticallyextended cylindrical valve chamber II3 forming part of casting I0 as shown generally in Figs. 1 and 8 and more in detail in Fig. 14. Details of valve chamber II3 are shown in Figs. 5 and'5a. The valve chamber II3 has a threaded top 2I4 and a cap 2I5 adapted to be secured upon said threaded top 2I4, the cap 2I5 being formed with a central opening 2I9 closed by a transparent member 2". The valve construction there shown is similar to the valve constructionheretofore described found in valve chamber I1. A

.washer II4 rests upon a circumferential flange or ledge Ila at a point materially lower than the flange 29 in valve chamber I1, and the washer H4 is secured in gastight position by means of solder II5. Surrounding a central opening H6 in the circumferential member H4 is a milled annular, sharp-edged lip II1 upon which rests a flicker valve disc II8. A bar H9- similar to bar 24 is held in position by screws I20 and sleeves I2I. The bar H9 is provided with a tubular boss I22 (Fig. 5a) in which operates a hollow piston I23 formed with a flanged top I24 in which is seated a coil spring I25 which surrounds the tubular boss I22, as shown in Figs. 5 and 5a.. A vertical guide pin. I26 is secured to the piston member I23 and has thereon a flange portion I21 which embraces and secures to said piston member a disc I29 formed with a circumferential depending edge I29 adapted to engage the valve disc H0 and to hold it closed whenever it is desired to close off exhalation through valve chamber II3. To force the disc I28 into its valve-closing position a cam I29 is mounted on a stub shaft 130 journaled in a boss I3I 1 70 so that it engages the flicker valve II8 before the cam I29 is rocked into its maximum closing position, said additional rocking after, engagement servingfurther to compress said springs, at which point the valve is held closed against pressures less than that of twenty-five millimeters of mercury; and as the cam is rocked in either direction a less pressure will serve to lift the flicker valve against the force of said springs. These pressures are indicated on a scale 220 in Fig. 5b with which a pointer 22I on rockshaft I30, projecting away from handle I32, is adapted to register, whereby desired varying degrees of pressure closing flicker valve ,8 may be maintained.

Another form of device for accomplishing the same result in a somewhat difierent way is shown in Figs 18 (left-hand side) and 21. In this form, piece 232 is secured by screws 233 along an element of the cylindrical casing II3. Pivotally connected at 234 and.235 to said piece are fork links 236 and 231. ,The outer forks of said fork links are pivoted at 238 and 239 to the opposite sides of a vertical movable piece 240 which carries a depending plunger 24I journaled in a bore 242 in piece'240 and pressed outwardly therein by a compression spring 243. The plunger 24I has fast thereon the closure disc I28 heretofore described w ch also carries the guide stem I26. Journaled in a hollow boss 244 secured in the wall II3 (Fig. 21) is a. shaft 245 which carries a crank disc 246. Journaled upon the crank disc 246 at 241 is a link 248 which in turn by the long pin 239 is pivotally connected with the piece 240. Upon the shaft 245 is a handle 249 by means of which shaft 245 and crank disc 246 are rotated. An adjusting screw 250 in the top of bore 242 determines the pressure of spring 243. When by means of handle 249 the crank disc 246 is rotated it will first'bring the annular lip I 29 against the valve disc II 8 and will add pressure thereto through compression'of spring 243 to a desired amount.

The purpose served by either form of the construction last above described is three-fold. First, it is a convenient means of shutting oil. flow of exhaled gases through the valve and to the re'-breathing bag, whereby when desired the rebreathing bag may be evacuated into the air the inhaler.

without removing the inhaler, it being 'only necessary to -free the exhaling valve I03 from This is efiected because when the movement of exhaled gases through valve H3 is blocked, the back pressure from exhalation on top of valve I24 will cause it .to be held firmly closed and exhalation to take place to atmosphere.

Second, under certain conditions it may be de sirable to inflate the lungs of the patient by direct pressure from the gas-administering machine. This is done either with mixtures or gases delivered from the machine as determined by the operator or with any one of the several gases such as oxygen, nitrous oxid o-r ethylene. As above stated the adjustment of the springs is such as to hold the valve closed against some selected maximum pressure, say twenty-five millimeters of mercury, which is generally regarded as a safe pressure for tolerance of lung tissues under all ordinary conditions. The mechanism permits of other adjustments, including all'less pressures to meet extraordinary conditions.

Third, this arrangement for closing the flow of exhaled gases through valve II3 also permits employment ot-the apparatus in delivering mixtures to a patient without rebreathing if under some conditions that might be desirable.

The two valve casings I l and H3 are connected with the central passageway 29 leading to the rebreathing bag, as clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, said connections being formed directly in casting I0. The connection I between central passageway 29 and valve chamber I'I- is below the inhaler passage 93 and below the valve I8, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The connection I36 between the central passageway 29 and valve chamber H3 is above valve H8 and of course above the exhaler inlet II2 to said valve chamber H3.

The operation of this arrangement of passageways and valves is that when negative pressure is established in the inhaler 91 by means of inhalation, the effect of that negative pressure below valve I I8 will be to hold said valve closed 'and above valve I8 to open said valve, whereby gas will be drawn through tubing 94, inlet connection 93 past valve disc I8 through opening I35 and central passageway 29, and from the rebreathing bag 54 either directly through central passageway 56 or indirectly through valve openings 51 and I6 after passing through the absorber material 60 in the absorber container 40. When the positive pressure from exhalation is produced in the inhaler 91 it will have the effect of closing flicker valve disc I8 and opening flicker valve disc H8 and exhaled gas will flow through exhaling tube I00, valve casing I08 (either through the ether chamber therein or directly as may be desired, as hereinafter pointed out), thence through passageway and connection H2 into valve casing II3, past flicker valve disc H8 and through passageway I36 to central passageway 29 and thence into the rebreathing bag 54 either directly through passageway 56 or through valve openings 16 and 51, going through the'absorbing' material 60 in absorber chamber 40.

Within the conical valve chamber I ill a conical valve I II is held seated by means of a bar I 3! held in engagement with an annular flange portion I38 -by means of a compression spring I39 surrounding a screw I40 threaded into the base I and central web I42. of the valve III. The casting I 08 is provided with oppositely-disposed tubular extensions I43 and I44, one connected with tubing I00, and I44 by a union nut I45 by means of which connection is made to extension II2 from chamber II3 formed on casting I0. The passageways in extensions I43 and I44 lead into opposite sides of valve chamber H0 and are controlled by valve III. As shown in Fig. 1'7 this valve is divided into four portions by the webs I46, I41 meeting in the junction part Hi2.

These webs carry a top wall I48 spaced from the top wall of the valve I49 to form a passageway I50, as clearly shown in Fig. 15. The top wall I48-is provided with ports I5I and I52 as shown in Fig. 16, so when the valve is in the position of Fig. 16, exhaled gas will pass up through port I5l through passageway I50 down through port I52 and through passageway in I44 to the valve chamber II3. Similarly the base portion MI of valve III is provided with ports I53 and I54 extending downwardly under the imperforate portions ofthe top I 48 as shown in Figs. 15 and 17 and opening into the space within ring extension I55 into which the union nut I56 on ether jar I09 is threaded. The open top of the ether jar is thus exposed to the ports I53 and I54 and port I53 is provided with an extension I51 which reaches down a desired distance within the ether jar and within an evaporator comprising a reticulate cylindrical member I58, a clamp at the top I59 and a multiplicity of cord wick members I60 within the reticulate cylinder I58. When, therefore, the. valve III is in the position shown in Fig. 15, exhaled gas will be forced down through extension I51 into and through the wicking I58 and thence will pass through port I54 to the passageway in extension I44and to the valve chamber II3.

The top member I49 of valve III is provided with a scale plate I6I provided with a scale I62 registering against a pointer I63, Fig. 1. Fast on a central boss I64 and formed on valve top I49 isa handle I65 by which the valve III is operated as desired'from the off-position shown in Figs. 1 and 14 to the on-position shown in Fig. 15, orto any intermediate position as indimovable with valve III.

with inhaler cam cup 223 set in the positions of Figs. 2 and 20 the inhaler mask 91 is applied to the face of the patient. In this form breathing is maintained directly to atmosphere through apertures 2I2, since the valve members connected with cam cup 223 operate to close communication with the inhaler 91 through tubes 94 and I00. The operator then' opens the appropriate valves of the gas-administering machine to permit enough of the proper mixture or gas to flow through the system to fill it and to fill rebreathing bag 54. At this point the cam cup 223 is turned to the position wherein the wing extensions 226 in engagementwith .the screw heads 221 will pull up on the valve stem 2I8 so as to bring the valve washer 3I4 against the lip 3I5 and thus close the passageway to atmosphere and open to the inhaler the passageways into tubes 94 and I00. Breathing through the system is thus established, and the operator will adjust the gas-administering machine to deliver a stream of gas into the system equivalent to that consumed in the patient as oxygen. and withdrawn in the absorber as CO2 and what is waste.

Where the absorber is used thecup I06 will ordinarily be positioned to engage flicker valve I03 and prevent any exhalation to atmosphere. When the parts are in this position gas is drawn through the rebreathing bag and passageway II2 where above valve II8 it mixes with the gas supply from the gas-administering machine and then passes through either the humidifier 205, ifthat is used, or directly, as may be desired, through tube 94 to the inhaler and lungs of the patient. above, or to any extent desired through, the ether vaporizer I09 into the-lower part of the valve chamber H3 and past valve III? to and through the absorbing material 60 in the absorber and to the rebreathing bag. From there upon the next exhalation the gas will pass from the rebreathing bag through the absorber material 60 and back into the circuit as above described. In

,the event that it is desired to employ the machine without passing the gas through the absorbing material, the valves may be set by means of handle 69 to cut out the passageways to the absorbing material and the inhaler valve I03 The advantages of the above arrangement and of the entire organization heretofore described Exhalation passes through tube I will be apparent. As to the ether vaporizer and its position on the exhaling side of the inhaler,

this has a marked advantage in that it avoids unequal distribution of the ether vapor in the gases going to the patient, employs the heat 'of exhalation not only in aiding vaporization, but also in maintaining suitable temperature and aids rebreathing of the exhaled gases charged with ether vapor by providing this mixture in a uniform condition best adapted to react favorably in the lungs of the patient. In order that there may be no undue restrictions in exhaling, the exhaled gases are not bubbled through'the ether, but pass continuously through wide-open passageways. The employment of the string wicking, made up of a've'ry large number of wicking cords, which dip into the liquid ether and carry it by capillary action to the enormous exposed surfaces of these cords, facilitates the necessary cated by the stationary pointer I63 on scale I62' rapid evaporation of the ether while permitting this full open fiow. The arrangement of check valves in the two respective valve chambers I1 and H3 in relation to the inhaling passageway and the exhaling passageway, respectively, and in combination with the central valve mechanism which deter mines the flow of gas through it and. from the rebreathing bag directly or in such a manner as to pass back and forth through the absorbing material, is such as to furnish correct and unrestricted flow of the gases in inhaling and exhaling, and at the same time is extremely easy of control by the operator. The organization is compact with all its parts easily accessible, and is' adapted to attach readily to any type .of gas mixing and administering machine. The construction is such that its use will-not only require much less of the expensive gases employed in anesthetizing operations, and thus prove economical, but at the same time bring such gases to the patients lungs in better condition for effecting the anesthetizing operation desired.

I claim:

1. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit including an inhaler and a rebreath ing bag said circuit closed to atmosphere, means for continuously admitting anesthetizing gas into the inhale side of said circuit, an absorber, means connecting the rebreathing bag in said circuit either through said absorber or independently thereof as desired, and an ether vaporizer positioned in the exhale side of said circuit and between the inhaler and the rebreathing bag, whereby ether goes to the patient only from vaporization in exhaled gases.

2. In a gas-administering machine, abreathing circuit including an inhaler and an absorber, an ether vaporizer on the exhale side of'said circuit between the inhaler and the absorber and provided with a .valve chamber and an ether container, and a valve in said chamber for controlling movement of exhaled gas either directly to the absorber or through the ether chamber to the absorber.

ing circuit including an inhaler and a rebreathing bag, an ether vaporizer in said circuit comprising a valve chamber and an ether container below the same, a tubular wicking consisting of a multiplicity of separate cordstrands dipping 'into the ether in said container, and a valve in said valve chamber for directing gas moving through said circuit into said ether jar and about said wicking or directly along the circuit as 7 desired.

4. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit including an inhaler and a rebreathing bag, an ether vaporizer in said circuit comprising a valve chamber and an ether container below the same, a tubular wicking consisting of a multiplicity of separate cord strands dipping into the ether in said container, and a valve in said valve chamber including a port extension within the tube of wicking for directing gas moving through said circuit to pass into said tube and about said wicking, or to pass directly along the circuit as desired.

5. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit including an inhaler and a rebreathing bag, an ether vaporizer in said circuit comprising a conical valve chamber and cylindrical ether container removably supported below the same, a tubular wicking consisting of a multiplicity of separate cord strands dipping into the ether in said container, a valve in said chamber comprising a passageway directly through said valve in the line 'of said breathing circuit, and diametrically-opposite ports in the floor or said valve on a line at right angles to said passage, one of said ports embodying an extension into said tubular wicking, whereby gas moving through said circuit may pass through directly,

or may be caused to move into and from said tube and about said wicking as desired.

6. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit, a member formed with two valve chambers in said circuit, and valves therein, said chambers connected respectively to the inhale side of the circuit above the valve and to the exhale side of the circuit below the valve, and an extension carried by said member forming a central passageway connected respectively to the valve chambers below the valve on the inhale side and above the valve on the exhale side, and a re-' breathing bag. connected with said central passageway.

7. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit, a member formed with two valve chambers in said circuit, and valves therein, said chambers connected respectively to the inhale side of the circuit above the valve and to the exhale side of the circuit below the valve, an extension carried by said member forming a central passageway connected respectively to the valve chambers below the valve on the inhale side and above the valve on the exhale side, an ab sorber surrounding said central passageway, and a rebreathing bag connected with said central passageway below the absorber.

8. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit, a member formed with two valve chambers in said circuit, and valves therein, said chambers connected respectively to the inhale side of the circuit above the valve and to theexhale side of the circuit below the valve, an extension carriedby said member forming a central passageway connected respectively to the valve chambers below the valve on the inhale side and above the valve on the exhale side, and an absorber removably secured to said member about said central passageway.

9. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit, a member formed with two valve chambers in said circuit and valves therein, said chambers connected respectively to the inhale side of the circuit above the valve and to the exhale side of the circuit below the valve, an extension carried by said member forming a central passageway connected respectively to the exhale and inhale sides valve chambers below the valve on the inhale side and above the valve on the exhale side, an absorber removably secured to said member about said central passageway, and a rebreathing bag carried by said absorber to connect with said central passageway.

10. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit including two valve chambers and valves therein, and an inhaler with an exhale valve, said chambers connected respectively to the inhale side of the circuit above the valve and to the exhale side of the circuit below the valve, means for supplying anesthetizing gas to the inhale side of the circuit, and means for restricting to a greater or less degree or closing the inhaler, exhale valve and the valve on the exhale side of the circuit.

11. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit including two valve chambers and valves therein, and an inhaler with an exhale valve, said chambers connected respectively to the inhale side of the circuit above the valve and to the exhale side of the circuit below the valve, means for supplying anesthetizing gas to the inhale side of the circuit, and means including a cam, a rotatable handle and a scale cooperating therewith for restricting to a greater or less degree or closing the valve of the exhale side orthe circuit and indicating the degree of said restriction.

12. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit including an inhaler, and an absorber located between the inhale and the exhale sides of the circuit, means for continuously admitting anesthetizing gas into the inhale side of said circuit, an ether vaporizer in the exhale side of said circuit between the inhaler and the rebreathing bag, and connections in said circuit whereby exhale gas and vaporized ether is introduced into the inhale side of the circuit along with said anesthetizing gas, after said exhale gas and vaporized ether have passed through the absorber.

13. In a gas administering machine, a breathing circuit including an inhaler and a rebreathing bag, said circuit closed to atmosphere, an absorber in said circuit, and means forming part of said circuit to permit gas to be moved through the absorber to the rebreathing bag on exhalation and through the absorber from the rebreathing bag on inhalation.

14. In a gas-administering machine, a breathing circuit, an absorber having a central passage in said circuit, absorber material surrounding said passage, a rebreathing bag connected with said passage, and means associated with the passage for causing the gas to pass through the absorbing material in its travel to and from the rebreathing bag.

15. In an anesthetizing apparatus embodying a closed breathing line, a conduit therein including a partition and having connection with the of the breathing line, respectively, onopposite sides of the partition, a container for absorber material adapted to be opened for the admission of exhalation gases 'above the partition and for the discharge thereof rial in the container.

- JAY A. HEIDBRINK. 

